How to be an Eco-Friendly Traveler: Support Local Communities
When thinking about sustainable travel, we know that reducing our carbon emissions, conserving water and recycling are great ways to preserve the environments we visit. You might be surprised to know, however, that supporting and empowering local communities is also an essential part of responsible travel — the good news is there are tons of ways to do this and they often make your experience more authentic and enjoyable!
Why is Supporting Local Communities Eco-Friendly?
There are a lot of reasons, but a big one is this: native populations are in the best position to understand how to look after their environments. They know better than anyone else what their land needs to be healthy. In a perfect world, they are also the ones who benefit most from its prosperity, thereby incentivizing them to take great care of it.
How can I help?
As you make travel plans, you can commit to helping indigenous communities in the places you visit. Here are a few suggestions as to how to go about this:
Shop Local - Shopping, staying and eating locally are all healthy environmental practices for a few reasons. For starters, it puts your dollars directly back into the local economy and into the hands of those acting as stewards to the environment. Furthermore, shopping and eating locally greatly reduces the carbon footprints of the items you are purchasing because they traveled fewer miles (if any at all!) to get to you. Purchasing local goods and meals is also great for immersing yourself in the native culture!
Support Wildlife Conservation Efforts - Many communities rely on tourism and donations to help fund environmental conservation efforts. Visiting these places helps restore balance to native ecosystems and is a powerful way to support local communities, as wildlife conservation helps improve soil health, supports marine protection and/or indigenous animal species. Healthy ecosystems are crucial for economic growth by drawing more visitors and improving the quality of life for the local population. Visiting and contributing to these protected areas is a great way to understand the experiences of the indigenous peoples, how they use and prosper from the land, broadening your understanding as to why environmental preservation is important. Depending on your desired level of involvement, you can also look into voluntourism opportunities for a hands-on experience.. This video from WWF documents one powerful success story in wildlife conservation, including how it is benefitting the local people. If you live in North America, consider supporting the work of the Ted Turner Endangered Species Foundation via a monetary donation.
Support Women & Girls - Did you know supporting female-owned businesses or organizations that empower women and girls in local communities is one of the best ways to reduce global carbon emissions?Contributing to these businesses and organizations in the places you visit helps grant the local women access to economic opportunities and education, thereby helping to raise themselves out of poverty and make independent decisions. Female education and financial stability means women no longer need to rely on marriage for security and can decide for themselves when to have children and how many. This benefits the environment by stabilizing rapid population growth that puts enormous strain on natural resources.
